‘Faith Repaid’: Sachin Tendulkar Praises Abhishek Sharma and India’s Batting Brilliance in Final

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised Team India's sensational performance in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, applauding the players for delivering under pressure and showcasing the depth of Indian cricket on the biggest stage.

Reacting to India's commanding batting display against the New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Tendulkar highlighted how the team's faith in young opener Abhishek Sharma paid off in the most crucial match of the tournament.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tendulkar noted that Sharma had endured a difficult run earlier in the tournament but rose to the occasion in the final with a fearless knock. The batting great said the youngster justified the team management's trust with a match-defining innings.

Tendulkar also applauded the contributions of Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, saying their aggressive approach and consistency helped India dominate the final from the very beginning. According to the former India captain, the trio set the tone for a memorable batting effort that reflected the confidence and depth of the current Indian squad.

India's innings was built on an explosive start as Samson and Sharma launched a brutal assault during the powerplay, putting the New Zealand bowlers under immediate pressure. Sharma smashed a rapid half-century to give India early momentum, while Samson continued his remarkable form with another composed yet attacking fifty.

After the solid foundation laid by the top order, Kishan carried forward the momentum with a fluent knock that kept the scoreboard ticking at a rapid pace. Despite a brief middle-order wobble, India finished strongly thanks to a late blitz from Shivam Dube, who hammered quick runs in the final over.

India eventually posted a massive total of 255, one of the highest scores ever recorded in a T20 World Cup final. Tendulkar's praise summed up the mood of millions of fans, as India's dominant batting display highlighted the team's fearless brand of cricket and their ability to shine on the biggest stage.